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A series of 55 steps over the course of about six weeks are required before each car is assembled , tested , and shipped . This intensive process is made more efficient by several HP technologies , including HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printers and a suite of
Z by HP devices : the Z2 Mini , Z2 Tower , and Z8 desktop workstations ; and ZBook Firefly , ZBook Studio , and ZBook Fury laptop workstations .
The system operates seamlessly across multiple software applications , allowing for greater flexibility and interactivity , and most importantly , time savings . For a process called ray tracing — a rendering technique that can produce incredibly realistic lighting effects on a 3D model — what used to take eight hours for a handful of images can be done in under 10 minutes .
“ HP ’ s experience working with BAC is helping us to build the next generation of technology ,” says Graves .
The car fits the driver , not the other way around Creating photorealistic visualizations is a top priority for BAC , because it lets customers vividly experience the different customization options on offer .
HP Reverb G2 VR headsets allow designers and customers to experience the car in three dimensions — before it ’ s built . BAC also uses AR to help picture how the car will look in a garage at home .
Additionally , about half of the parts that are 3D printed for the Mono are made with HP ’ s Multi Jet Fusion technology , including shift paddles on the steering column and parts that house the mirrors and front and rear lights .
“ 3D printing is a game changer for modeling and prototyping ,” says race car fabricator Don Breslauer . “ You don ’ t need a lathe or mill or any high-accuracy machining tools , and you can make pieces that are incredibly precise . It ’ s the way of the future .”
FOCUS ON DESIGN Clockwise from top : A CAD rendering of a Mono R mirror arm ; Ian Briggs , a cofounder of BAC , and senior designer Murray Adams ( left ) view a digital mood board ; bespoke race wear like this helmet is designed to match the cars ’ paint schemes ; the custom WipEout paint scheme requested by a customer ; Neill and Ian Briggs inspect the in-development Niobium chassis for the new Mono F .
Vehicles for the rest of us As a luxury car , the Mono is a world away from the massproduced vehicles that most of us drive , but it ’ s a glimpse into a future we might all share . As digital design and production tools become ever more sophisticated and widespread , manufacturers will be increasingly empowered to let consumers customize and visualize their vehicles before they ’ re built .
“ More and more people want personalization ,” says Ian Briggs . He points out that among BAC competitors — Porsche , McLaren , Ferrari — all offer special vehicles with bespoke details . “ This kind of computing power is essential in being able to modify the design data for each individual car .” That could mean changing the color of individual panels , switching a gloss finish to matte , or including a customer ’ s logo .
As computer-aided design and 3D printing technology advance , designers ’ imaginations will face ever fewer constraints . That means that the wild vision made real by Ian and Neill Briggs is just a taste of what ’ s to come . Says HP ’ s Graves : “ You ’ re going to see the craziest stuff .”